Description

The Clinical Practice Specialist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Clinical Practice Specialist leads efforts to ensure quality clinical practice and professional development at the front-line.

Responsibilities:

Quality:

• Develops and implements education opportunities for staff identified through needs assessments, departmental and system goals and new/expanded clinical programs.
• Supports staff to seek/maintain specialty certification including monitoring progress and completion.
• Assesses for opportunities to improve in quality and practice areas; develops corresponding action as needed with key unit/division stakeholders.
•  Leads/facilitates inter-professional teams for unit/division based and house-wide clinical process improvement.

Culture of Safety:

• Plans, implements, evaluates division specific learning activities to improve safety (i.e. simulations with support of Professional Practice and Development team members.
• Unit-based clinical policy and procedure review/updating.
• Rounds on unit with intention of coaching and mentoring.

Evidence-based Practice / Research:

• Identify opportunities/mentor/implement EBP projects, including unit/division order sets and practice guidelines.
• Identify, mentor and/or participate in nursing or inter-professional clinical research projects.
• Assist in interpreting research findings and developing strategies for implementation of results into evidenced based clinical practice guidelines.

Annual Competency/Orientation/Retention:

• Actively Participates in new employee orientation (PCS Orientation and unit based orientation).
• Participates in monitoring new hire goal progress and in touch points/check-ins.
• Utilizes internal / external resources to develop and implement unit’s annual competency and annual education plan and maintains record of completion.

Education:

· Provide informal unit-based education based on unit learning needs assessment.

· Provides formal classroom instruction and skills assessments including competency assessment.

· Maintains visibility on all shifts and serves as resource to off-shift staff.

· Includes a focus on “just in time” teaching at the bedside.

Leadership:

• Advocates for patients, families, nursing staff and other members of the healthcare community.
• Assumes a leadership role in professional activities and organizations.
• Collaborates with NM leadership teams to develop, implement and evaluate strategic plans for quality improvement initiatives.
• Collaborates with physicians to lead changes in clinical practice.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Masters in Science in Nursing or to obtain within 4 years of assuming role
• Registered Nursing license issued by the State of Illinois
• Certified in related clinical area or to obtain when eligible 
• 3-5 years’ experience in specific clinical area
• BLS through American Heart Association

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.